Travel During Pregnancy – Is It OK to Travel?

With the proper safety measures, and armed with information and details on when to travel, travel insurances and vaccinations, most women can travel safely well in their pregnancy.

Wherever you want to go, first, find out what healthcare provisions are at the destination you want to go in case if you might need urgent medical attention. It’s an excellent idea to take your maternity medical records (also called handheld cards) with you so you can give physicians the relevant information if necessary.

Make sure that your travel insurance covers you for any occurrence, such as premature birth, pregnancy-related medical care during childbirth, and the cost of changing the date of your return trip if you go into delivery.

‘’It’s wrong to say a definite ‘’NO” when it comes to traveling while pregnant,’’ says MD Frank A. Chervenak. Chervenak is a professor and president of the department of gynecology and obstetrics and the chairperson of maternal & fetal medicine at Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York City. ‘’You have to individualize each and every situation,’’ says Chervenak. For example, ‘’I can visualize a scenario after eight months where travel is allowed.”

The bottom line? ‘’Talk about any travel with your doctor and see what she or he thinks,’’ says Chervenak. ‘’If your doctor is concerned, then you should be too and weigh whether the travel is necessary.’’

When to Travel in Pregnancy

Some mums-to-be prefer not to travel in the first 13 weeks of pregnancy because of nausea and feeling exhausted during these early phases. The risk of spontaneous abortion is also higher in the first trimester, whether you are traveling or not.

Traveling in the third trimester of pregnancy is a worry for many women,’’ says Sarah Reynolds, who’s a gynecologist and a consultant obstetrician at the Bedford Hospital NHS Trust. ‘’But if you don’t have pregnancy complications then there is no reason why you can’t travel safely, of course, if you take the right safety measures.”

Here are some common tips to ensure both you and your baby stay healthy throughout your travels.

Tips for Traveling Safely During Pregnancy

Whether you’re going by car, train, or bus, it is usually safe to travel while you are pregnant; although there are some things to think about as they could make your journey safer and more comfortable.

It is essential to buckle your seatbelt every time you ride in a car. Ensure that you use both the shoulder and lap belts for the best protection for both you and your baby.

Always keep the air bags turned on. The protection benefits of the air bag outweigh any possible risk to you and your baby.

Busses have small restrooms and narrow aisles. This mode of transportation might be more challenging. The safest thing to do is to remain in the seat while the bus is moving. If you need to use the restroom, make sure you’ll hold on to the seats or rail to keep your balance.

Trains usually have more space to walk and navigate. The restrooms are usually It is necessary to hold onto seat backs or rails while the train is moving.

It’s best to limit the amount of time you are cooped up in the train, car, or bus. Keep travel time around 5 to 6 hours.

Use the rest stops to take short strolls and to do stretches to maintain the blood circulating.

Click here to learn if air travel, traveling by sea, international travel, and car travel are safe during pregnancy. Plus learn how to prepare.